Mediated Electronic Messaging with Value-Added Services

1. An electronic transmission method, comprising: communicating electronically, by a user that is an electronic system, a message to a recipient that is an electronic system; requiring authentication information from only the user; conveying software to the user, wherein the software enables the user to selectively send electronic transmissions to the recipient via a computer system acting as a mediation site; associating with the mediation site at least one value-added processing service chosen from the group consisting of carrier indication, sender indication, transmission identification, address verification, address correction, and archiving; and billing the user for service rendered through the mediation site for the at least one value-added processing service.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the value-added processing service of carrier indication includes: accepting, at the mediation site, an electronic transmission from the user to the recipient; causing an indicator reflective of the mediation site to be associated with the electronic transmission; and conveying the electronic transmission to the recipient via the mediation site in a manner causing, after receipt by the recipient, the indicator to be displayed associated with the electronic transmission.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the value-added processing service of sender indication includes: accepting, at mediation site, an electronic transmission from the user to the recipient; and conveying the electronic transmission from the mediation site to the recipient along with coding for an indicator reflective of the sender's identity, wherein the electronic transmission and the indicator are conveyed in a manner to cause a monitor of the recipient to display the indicator associated with electronic transmission identification information.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the value-added processing service of electronic transmission identification includes: accepting, at the mediation site, an electronic transmission from the user to the recipient; adding to the electronic transmission a certification after receipt at the mediation site; causing an indicator reflective of the certification to be associated with the electronic transmission; and conveying the electronic transmission and the certification from the mediation site to the recipient in a manner causing, after receipt by the recipient, the indicator to be displayed in association with the electronic transmission.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the value-added processing service of guaranteed delivery includes: accepting, at the mediation site, an electronic transmission from the user to the recipient; conveying the electronic transmission, from the mediation site to the recipient; attempting to verify receipt of the electronic transmission by the recipient; converting the electronic transmission to physical media if electronic receipt of the electronic transmission is not verified; and physically conveying the electronic transmission on the physical media to the recipient.

6. The method of claim 5 further including, prior to converting, electronically reconveying the electronic transmission to the recipient if receipt verification is not accomplished.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the value-added processing service of address verification includes: accepting, at the mediation site from a user at least one electronic address to be verified; comparing the at least one electronic address with electronic addresses listed in a database of actual electronic addresses; identifying, when said at least one address does not match an entry in the database, a probable correct address; and notifying the user of the incorrect address and the probable correct address.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the value-added processing service of address correction includes: accepting, at the mediation site, from a user an electronic transmission along with a listed electronic address of the recipient; verifying accuracy of the listed electronic address, by comparing the listed electronic address with a database of actual electronic addresses; identifying a correct electronic address when the listed address does not match an address in the electronic database; replacing the listed address with the correct electronic address; and conveying the electronic transmission to the correct electronic address.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the value-added processing service of archiving includes: accepting, at the mediation site, an electronic transmission from the user to the recipient; associating, at the mediation site, a verification with the electronic transmission; storing, at a third party location other than a location of the user and the recipient, a copy of the electronic transmission and the verification; and conveying the electronic transmission to the recipient.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the value-added processing service of transmission security includes: offering the user a choice between a plurality of security levels; accepting, at the mediation site, from a user an electronic transmission to the recipient along with a request for a chosen security level; accepting a security level for conveying of the electronic transmission; conveying, at the selected security level, the electronic transmission to the recipient; and charging the user a transaction fee as a function of the level of security chosen.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the software is an e-mail program plug-in.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein billing is accomplished using one or more of prepaid, subscription or hierarchical billing structures.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining user identification information includes enabling the user to open an account at the mediation site and establishing an account record in conjunction therewith.

14. A method of identifying a mediator that is a computer system of an electronic transmission, the method comprising: communicating, by a sender that is an electronic system, a message to a receiver that is an electronic system; requiring registration information from only the sender; accepting, at the mediator, an electronic transmission from the sender to the receiver; causing an indicator reflective of the mediator to be associated with the electronic transmission; and conveying the electronic transmission to the receiver via the mediator in a manner causing, after receipt by the receiver, the indicator to be displayed associated with the electronic transmission.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the indicator is conveyed by the mediator.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the indicator is resident at the receiver's location, and during conveying, a code is forwarded with the electronic transmission, the code for causing the indicator to be displayed.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the indicator is caused to be displayed adjacent to the electronic transmission identification information.

18. A method of identifying a source of an electronic transmission, the method comprising: requiring registration information from only a sender that is an electronic system; sending an electronic transmission from the sender to a receiver that is an electronic system; and sending coding to the receiver along with the electronic transmission, wherein the coding is for an indicator reflective of the sender's identity, and wherein the electronic transmission and the indicator are sent in a manner to cause a monitor of the receiver to display the indicator associated with electronic transmission identification information.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the electronic transmission identification information is displayed on an electronic transmission identification information list.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the electronic transmission identification list is a listing in a mailbox of transmissions received by the receiver and wherein the indicator is an icon displayed in the mailbox adjacent to the listing of the electronic transmission.

21. The method of claim 18 , wherein the indicator is caused to be displayed adjacent to the electronic transmission identification information.

22. The method of claim 18 , further comprising sending the electronic transmission to the receiver via a mediator, and sending, with the electronic transmission, an indicator reflective of the mediator's identity, the conveying occurring in a manner causing the indicator reflecting the mediator's identity to be displayed in addition to the indicator reflecting the sender's identity.

23. The method of claim 18 , wherein the indicator of the sender's identity and the indicator of the mediator's identity are simultaneously displayed in the receiver's electronic transmission identification information list.

24. A method of sending an electronic transmission, the method comprising: requiring registration information from only a sender that is an electronic system; receiving, by a mediator that is a computer system, an electronic transmission from the sender to a receiver that is an electronic system; adding to the electronic transmission a certification after receipt at the mediation site; causing an indicator reflective of the certification to be associated with the electronic transmission; and sending the electronic transmission and the certification from the mediator to the receiver in a manner causing, after receipt by the receiver, the indicator to be displayed in display associated with the electronic transmission.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the display is an electronic transmission identification listing in a mailbox of transmissions received by the receiver and wherein the indicator is an icon displayed in the mailbox adjacent to the listing of the electronic transmission.

26. The method of claim 24 , wherein the indicator is caused to be displayed adjacent to electronic transmission identification information.

27. The method of claim 24 , wherein the certification is an identification service provided to the sender for a fee.

28. The method of claim 27 , wherein the fee paid by the sender corresponds to the amount, of information provided in the certificate.

29. The method of 27 , wherein the identification service identifies the electronic transmission as virus free.

30. The method of 27 , wherein the identification service identifies the electronic transmission as having non-offensive content.

31. A method of sending an electronic transmission, the method comprising: requiring authentication information from only a sender that is an electronic system; receiving, by a mediator that is a computer system, an electronic transmission from the sender for a receiver that is an electronic system; associating an indicator with the electronic transmission, wherein the indicator is based on a criteria defined by the receiver; and sending the electronic transmission from the mediator to the receiver in a manner causing, after receipt by the receiver, the indicator to be displayed is a display associated with the electronic transmission.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the display is a electronic transmission identification listing in a mailbox of transmissions received by the receiver and wherein the indicator is an icon displayed in the mailbox adjacent to the listing of the electronic transmission.

33. The method of claim 31 , wherein the indicator is caused to be displayed adjacent to electronic transmission identification information.

34. The method of claim 31 , wherein the criteria is an indication of the value the receiver places on the electronic transmission.

35. The method of claim 31 , wherein the fee paid by the receiver corresponds to the amount of information provided in the indicator.

36. A method of securely conveying an electronic transmission, comprising: requiring registration information from only a sender that is an electronic system; enabling the sender to select a level of security for the sending of an electronic transmission to a receiver that is an electronic system; charging the sender a transaction fee as a function of the level of security chosen; enabling the sender to securely send the electronic transmission to a computer system acting as a mediator; and conveying, at the selected security level, the electronic transmission from the mediator to the receiver.

37. The method of claim 36 , wherein the levels of security includes signing the electronic transmission with a digital certificate.

38. The method of claim 36 , wherein the levels of security includes hashing the electronic transmission and signing the hashed electronic transmission.

39. The method of claim 36 , wherein the levels of security includes using a Secure Socket Layer.

40. A method of archiving electronic transmissions, the method comprising: requiring registration information from only a sender that is an electronic system; enabling the sender to send an electronic transmission to a computer system acting as a mediator for conveying to a receiver that is an electronic system; generating by the mediator certification of the electronic transmission; associating the certification with the electronic transaction; storing by the mediator a copy of the electronic transmission and the certification; and sending the electronic transmission to the receiver.

41. The method of claim 40 , wherein the certification is a postmark.

42. The method of claim 40 , wherein the certification is transmitted to the sender.

43. The method of claim 40 , further comprising charging the sender a fee for storing.

44. The method of claim 40 , further comprising enabling the sender to obtain, subsequent to sending the electronic transmission, a copy of the stored electronic transmission and the stored certificate.

45. The method of claim 44 , further comprising charging the sender for obtaining one or more copies.

46. The method of claim 40 , wherein the storing step further comprises using a physical media to store the electronic transmission and certificate.

47. A method of providing guaranteed electronic transmission delivery, the method comprising: requiring registration information from only a sender that is an electronic system; enabling the sender to electronically send to a computer system acting as a mediator an electronic transmission intended for a receiver that is an electronic system; sending the electronic transmission, from the mediator to the receiver; attempting to verify receipt of the electronic transmission by the receiver; converting the electronic transmission to physical media if electronic receipt of the electronic transmission is not verified; and physically conveying the electronic transmission on the physical media to the receiver.

48. The method of claim 47 further including, prior to converting, electronically reconveying the electronic transmission to the receiver if receipt verification is not accomplished.

49. The method of claim 47 , wherein the physical media is paper mail.

50. A method of sending an electronic transmission, the method comprising: requiring registration information from only a sender that is an electronic system; enabling the sender to convey the electronic transmission to a computer system acting as a mediator along with a listed electronic address of a receiver that is an electronic system of the electronic transmission; verifying by the mediator accuracy of the listed electronic address by comparing the listed electronic address with a database of actual electronic addresses; identifying a correct electronic address when the listed address does not match an address in the electronic database; replacing the listed address with the correct electronic address; and sending the electronic transmission to the correct electronic address.

51. The method of claim 50 further comprising giving the sender the option of choosing a new address from a list of possible addresses.

52. The method of claim 50 , wherein identifying a correct electronic address further comprises recognizing common errors.

53. The method of claim 50 wherein the database maps a physical address to the electronic address.

54. The method of claim 50 wherein the database maps a name to the electronic address.

55. The method of claim 50 wherein the database is the Direct Network Services compilation of all valid e-mail addresses.

56. A method of verifying electronic addresses, the method comprising: requiring registration information from only a sender that is an electronic system; accepting, at a computer system acting as a mediation site, from the sender at least one electronic address to be verified; comparing the at least one electronic address with electronic addresses listed in a database of actual electronic addresses; identifying, when said at least one address does not match an entry in the database, a probable correct address; and notifying the sender of the incorrect address and the probable correct address.

57. The method of claim 56 , further comprising giving the sender the option of choosing a new address from a list of possible addresses.

58. The method of claim 56 wherein the identifying step further comprises recognizing common errors.

59. The method of claim 56 wherein the database maps a physical address to the electronic address.

60. The method of claim 56 wherein the database maps a name to the electronic address.

61. The method of claim 56 wherein the database is the Direct Network Services compilation of all valid e-mail addresses.

62. An electronic e-mail system, comprising: a mediation site enabling a user to transmit electronic transmissions to intended recipients; a registration module to register only the user, enabling the user to electronically open an account and register for use of the mediation site by providing identifying user and payment information; a module to transmitt to the user plug-in software compatible with a user's e-mail program and permitting the user to selectively transmit electronic transmissions to the intended recipients via the mediation site; at least one value-added processing module, associated with the mediation site, chosen from the group consisting of virus-free verification, time and date verification, transmission archiving, address authentication, address correction, content screening, mail opened verification and guaranteed delivery; and a module to bill the user for services rendered through the mediation site.

63. The system of claim 62 wherein the mediation site includes a server.

64. The system of claim 62 wherein the registration module includes software for generating an electronic application form.

65. The system of claim 62 wherein the module to transmitt the plug-in software provides the user an option of receiving the software through electronic or physical transmission.

66. The system of claim 62 wherein the at least one value-added module transmits to the sender associated information regarding the electronic transmission.

67. The system of claim 62 wherein the billing module charges a user's account based, at least in part, on volume of messages transmitted.

68. The system of claim 67 wherein the billing module charges the user's account based, at least in part, on the selected value-added service.

69. The system of claim 62 wherein the system allows the user to selectively choose one or more value-added processes.